Identifying sheets within stacks using edge marking

Abstract

Embodiments herein include a method of identifying sheets within a stack of printed sheets for sorting or further evaluation. In one embodiment the method comprises printing non-test production printing job(s) on sheets of media and outputting the printed sheets into a stack of sheets. The method monitors the printing of the non-test production printing jobs and, upon the occurrence of a “predetermined event” during the monitoring, adds a unique marking at an edge region of a printed sheet (of the non-test production printing jobs) being printed to create an identifier sheet from one of the sheets of the non-test production printing jobs. The unique marking is visible from the side of the stack of sheets. The identifier sheet is then output to the stack of sheets with the other sheets of the non-test production print job. During the remainder of the printing of the non-test production print job the method continues the printing of the sheets and the monitoring. After the printing is completed, the identifier sheet can be subjected to specific inspection or can be used to indicate a specific sheet count within the stack of sheets. Then the stack of sheets can be subjected to subsequent processing such as trimming and binding, wherein the trimming process removes the edge region from the printed sheets.

1 . A method comprising:
 printing on sheets of media;   outputting printed sheets from said printing into a stack of sheets;   monitoring said printing;   upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during said monitoring, adding a unique marking at an edge of a sheet being printed to create an identifier sheet, such that said unique marking is visible from a side of said stack of sheets;   outputting said identifier sheet to said stack of sheets; and   continuing said printing of said sheets and said monitoring.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring comprises counting a number of said printed sheets and said event comprises a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a start of said printing process or a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a printing of a most recent identifier sheet. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring comprises observing a image quality of said printed sheets and said event comprises said image quality being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring parameters of a printer performing said printing and said event comprises a parameter being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising printing a beginning identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said beginning identifier sheet when a parameter goes outside of said normal range and printing an ending identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said ending identifier sheet when a parameter returns to within said normal range. 
   
   
       6 . A method comprising:
 printing on sheets of media;   outputting printed sheets from said printing into a stack of sheets;   monitoring said printing;   upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during said monitoring, adding a unique marking at an edge region of a sheet being printed to create an identifier sheet, such that said unique marking is visible from a side of said stack of sheets;   outputting said identifier sheet to said stack of sheets;   continuing said printing of said sheets and said monitoring; and   trimming said stack of sheets, wherein said trimming process removes said edge region from said printed sheets.   
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said monitoring comprises counting a number of said printed sheets and said event comprises a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a start of said printing process or a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a printing of a most recent identifier sheet. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said monitoring comprises observing a image quality of said printed sheets and said event comprises said image quality being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring parameters of a printer performing said printing and said event comprises a parameter being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising printing a beginning identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said beginning identifier sheet when a parameter goes outside of said normal range and printing an ending identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said ending identifier sheet when a parameter returns to within said normal range. 
   
   
       11 . A method comprising:
 printing at least one non-test production printing job on sheets of media;   outputting printed sheets from said printing into a stack of sheets;   monitoring said printing of said non-test production printing job;   upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during said monitoring, adding a unique marking at an edge region of a printed sheet of said non-test production printing job being printed to create an identifier sheet from a sheet of said non-test production printing job, such that said unique marking is visible from a side of said stack of sheets;   outputting said identifier sheet to said stack of sheets;   continuing said printing of said sheets and said monitoring;   subjecting said identifier sheet to inspection; and   trimming said stack of sheets, wherein said trimming process removes said edge region from said printed sheets.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring comprises counting a number of said printed sheets and said event comprises a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a start of said printing process or a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a printing of a most recent identifier sheet. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring comprises observing a image quality of said printed sheets and said event comprises said image quality being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring parameters of a printer performing said printing and said event comprises a parameter being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising printing a beginning identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said beginning identifier sheet when a parameter goes outside of said normal range and printing an ending identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said ending identifier sheet when a parameter returns to within said normal range. 
   
   
       16 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer-usable data carrier storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:   printing on sheets of media;   outputting printed sheets from said printing into a stack of sheets;   monitoring said printing;   upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during said monitoring, adding a unique marking at an edge of a sheet being printed to create an identifier sheet, such that said unique marking is visible from a side of said stack of sheets;   outputting said identifier sheet to said stack of sheets; and   continuing said printing of said sheets and said monitoring.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein said monitoring comprises counting a number of said printed sheets and said event comprises a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a start of said printing process or a predetermined number of sheets being printed from a printing of a most recent identifier sheet. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein said monitoring comprises observing a image quality of said printed sheets and said event comprises said image quality being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       19 . The computer program product according to  claim 16 , wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring parameters of a printer performing said printing and said event comprises a parameter being out of a predetermined normal range. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product according to  claim 19 , further comprising printing a beginning identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said beginning identifier sheet when a parameter goes outside of said normal range and printing an ending identifier sheet having said unique marking at an edge of said ending identifier sheet when a parameter returns to within said normal range.